Florida Certification Board Launches New Resiliency Credentials for Child and Youth Advocates Across Various Sectors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 2024

Tallahassee, Florida – September 9, 2024 – The Florida Certification Board (FCB) in collaboration with Northwest Florida Health Network announces the opening of two new credentials: the Certified Resiliency Advocate (CRA) and the Registered Resiliency Advocate (RRA). These credentials offer a unique opportunity for people from many walks of life – from parents/caregivers, teachers, and coaches to health and human service professionals and other child and youth-serving professionals – to demonstrate their commitment to and competence in facilitating positive development among Florida’s youngest citizens.

The primary objective of this initiative is to prepare individuals who can skillfully instill the confidence, character, and skills that children and youth need to be successful and thrive, as well as cope with or adapt to challenges or adversity – to be resilient. The knowledge and skills that comprise these credentials boost the credential holder’s personal and professional effectiveness, enabling them to be more intentional and impactful in fostering resilience among children and youth.

The Certified Resiliency Advocate and the Registered Resiliency Advocate credentials are built on a foundation of research surrounding the factors that comprise resiliency, positive child and youth development, trauma-informed care, and appropriate practices that take into consideration each child’s unique abilities and experiences. The creation of these credentials was in direct response to the resiliency initiative of Florida’s First Lady Casey DeSantis. She states, “We want to empower our youth with the tools and the skillsets to be resilient by learning how to persevere through life’s challenges. We know no one is immune from adversity and hardship. It’s not whether you’ll have challenges in life, but it’s about how you respond and persevere.”

Through a collaboration with the Northwest Florida Health Network, the Florida Certification Board has worked diligently alongside an advisory panel of more than 30 early childhood education experts, teachers, school and behavioral health counselors, behavior analysts, coaches, parents, and faith-based individuals to develop the credential structure and requirements.